On this Sunday afternoon, every team will play their 38th game, the last one of this season 2023-24. Premier League never disappoints you, who will be crowned the champion is not decided, yet! There’s not much to play for the other teams however.
Relegation battle : We already know the three teams that would be relegated. Luton, Burnley and a piss poor Sheffield United are going down.
Europe qualifiers : Newcastle and Man United are hoping Chelsea loses it’s last game and that they can win (while the other one should also lose) to secure a place in Europa League. Aston Villa have already qualified to Champions League football next season, so a 5th position Tottenham can’t do much about it.
Title challenge : This is the most important bit. Man City and Arsenal have two points difference, and there are 4 conditions that can happen.
- City loses, Arsenal Wins – We run away with the title. For this to happen, David Moyes needs to do us a favor, while we need to get pass the Dyche’s football.
- City draws, Arsenal wins – We win again since we have a better goal difference to City (60 to 61).
- City wins – irrespective of what happens with any other teams, if City wins, Pep will have another trophy to show in his cabinet.
- Arsenal draw / loss – If we draw against Everton or in worst case lose, City will be crowned Champions irrespective of their result against Moyes.
If you ask me personally, I would love the second scenario, a nerve breaking one where we beat the best team on the planet on goal difference of just ONE, on the final day of the league. That would be a WOW! moment. It’s not happening though, don’t keep your hopes high.
The best part of all of this is, that we are in contention for the title. The worst of it all, we depend on West Ham to beat City for us, and it’s not happening. Not on the final day, not when City needs a win to secure 4th title in a row, not at Etihad. There’s a very slim chance the west London club do us a favor, since Spurs and Son went on full Spursy mode against Pep. A very slim that one, but it won’t let me not be all excited for the game.
I was full ballistic in December when we dropped a lot of points. I was mad when we let Emery school us when we needed a win. The lads couldn’t sustain the pressure, nor the manager towards the end of the last season, but we have improved in that area. We have hold the fort since our Dubai’s training, and we have been giving some sleepless nights to Pep.
Lets not underestimate our achievements. Klopp fought against Pep for 8 seasons and only won one of those titles. He was second with 97 points in one of them. He had the best front 3 in last decade, Salah , Mane and Firmino and along with the best defender in VVD, he still couldn’t win more than once. Arteta has a lot to do before he matches Klopp. He is learning, and we are improving. I hated the pace at which we did, and I still do, but now since that bad phase has gone, I am very optimistic about the club in coming days.
Doesn’t mean I am not critical how we are letting go of Reuell Walters for free. A 19- year old Right Back, who made the Arsenal bench numerous times but couldn’t make it should still cost a couple million dollars in the market. Arthur Okonkwo is also leaving as a free agent, he should have costed more than a couple of millions. Aaron Ramsdale have been dropping hints of his transfers, and in his latest Instagram post, we saw a farewell message to him. The rumours points out a 15m fees to Newcastle. Now, how in the hell do you sell a player who was starting every game last season, and who is not playing not because his form dipped but because Mikel prefers David Raya over him, for only 15 million to a club that has all the money in the world. It’s not like we are selling him to Crystal Palace or Bournemouth.
Elneny and Cedric are leaving at the end of this season. I’m okay with that, they had their time here, and it’s over now.
In other news, Arne Slot will be the new Liverpool manager after Klopp. He is currently managing Feyenoord and is considered a top manager. We have seen what happens to those ‘top managers’ in the premier league – Ten Haag, Ralph Ragnik, Ange – and I will not have kept my hopes high if I was a Liverpool supporter. Plus, they will go through a rebuild now. Man United is in shambles, Chelsea are shit, Spurs will remain Spurs for the foreseeable future, and it’s going to be another City v Arsenal.
Right, that’s all for today. If you have a lucky charm in your house, hold on to it for 90 dear god minutes tomorrow, and pray West Ham sees Milwall in City. We also would have to win against Everton for sure. Lets close the season on a banger, irrespective of what happens.
See you tomorrow.
Transfer business will be slow for a while with the Euro’s coming up might as well kick back and enjoy and not think about what new ways is Arteta going to find to overcomplicate things / shoehorn players he’s bought into the team because he can’t look more than 15 seconds into the future.
Marc-generally I would agree with your “slow” window assessment, as that’s traditionally been the case when the Euros or the WC is on the docket, but I think it might be a little different this year, as more players(agents) and teams appear to be pushing for things to get sorted prior to the start of their respective matches…now this could be diificult, as both the window and the Euros start on the same day, but if you’ve got your shit together you can deal with all the contractual formalities long before that date…not to mention, another motivating force for teams to get their business done early will be their fear that player’s values could escalate greatly during the tournament, like what transpired at the last WC
actually I think the bigger problem is all the FFP/PSR rules and regs, as we witnessed in the last window, which set records for the lack of spending…so for those teams who need to sell before buying, this could be a long fucking summer
as for your concerns about MA “overcomplicating” matters, I couldn’t agree more, which is why I felt the 3-4-3 would work so well for us, as it would have seen some of MA’s more expensive purchases being deployed in their best respective positions
“I think our focus has to be with what we have already in house. How can we be better? There are margins and there are players that can still develop and be better and that’s the objective that we have”
Let’s hope this above quote by MA yesterday is utter bullshit or we could be in for a rude awakening hext season…of course it won’t be major drop-off, considering all the managerial maneuvering up top, but it could mean that being the bridesmaid for a 3rd time running is our PL ceiling and that we will likely get bounced out of the CL even earlier
TRVL
I did work out our points tally from the matches against ManU, Liverpool, Chelsea, City, the Spud’s etc from last season and to be honest can’t be bothered to go through it again but it was very very good and I can’t see us repeating it this coming season.
The only team where we had a pair of results that could / should be improved is against Villa but for any points gained we’re just as likely to drop some elsewhere.
Actually the biggest impact on next season could be City players easing off knowing Pep’s leaving come seasons end – the FFP case against them will end up in the courts and drag on for an age unless the PL has some serious fangs and balls.
Marc-I do remember your earlier post regarding our substantial point return against the teams you’ve mentioned above and I do agree that it will be difficult to replicate that feat…my bigger concern is that if we really want to be a European powerhouse we can’t rest on our laurels, like we did during Wenger’s latter reign, unless the whole plan is to simply save our monies and hope that Pep leaves City next summer…even so, that doesn’t guarantee us jackshit, as there’s a handful of other sides that could figure their respective shit out, while we’re twiddling our thumbs, and wreak havoc on our post-Pep plans
TRVL
I’d be happy with the window you suggest and we’ve both been banging the back 3 drum for a long time. Probably 2+ seasons.
I said yesterday ad I’ll reiterate I feel Eze is the missing piece to winning a trophy at 8. Rice Ode Eze midfield is, in my view, golden. The service will be non stop from both side as it was in the Invincible days.
If we added your left suggestions even better. If we only bought one player? I hope it is Eze.
Marc
I agree the Euros is going to make the TW its usually difficult self, which we make infinitely more difficult with our procrastinations. Why the fcuk we can’t just tie our business up instead of playing the TW games, I have no idea. Were there long, protracted Mbappe talks with Madrid?
Make the player want us and the club will fold.
It’s a time honored thing and the way to get any business done. We have the leverage and Palace need the money. We’ve been there before, but Parish will want to improve, and say £65m for Eze helps Palace do it. So, get Eze to put in a transfer request and get it done before the Euros.
Or get Eze to buy his £39m contract out.
“Eberech Eze signed a 5 year , $7,800,000 contract with the Crystal Palace, including an average annual salary of $1,560,000. In 2024, Eze will earn a base salary of $5,200,000, while carrying a cap hit of $5,200,000. Source: EPL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.”
There is always a way to get business done if you really need it done and have the leverage. We don’t seem to have a team in Garlick & Lewes who can get things done quickly. Although our contracts seem to be much improved with sell on % et al.
Norg
I agree but think we’ll get £30m to £40m for ESR. It should be £50+ or Havertz’s fee level.
Another tanking of a player’s worth. ESR last start earnt him MOTM and a seat back on the bench. Go figure.
The name of the day is Viktor Tsygankov, a 26 year old Ukrainian right winger with Girona(La Liga)…prior to that he played 6+ seasons with Kyiv, where those in the “know” were convinced he was destined for greater things…that said, his first gig abroad took considerably longer than was first thought…if you don’t know the player in question, except for having a quick looksee at his “transfermarkt” bio, you might be under the impression that he could be effectively deployed in multiple positions, but that would involve some serious stretching of the truth…while at Girona, he had 6 rather unproductive appearances as a CAM, with his remaining 39 coming on the right, whereas at Kyiv he had 188 starts on the right, 10 in the midfield, and 28 on the left…now if you just looked at the raw data without the requisite context you would see his rather impressive record on the left, as he potted 13 goals and added 9 assists in 20+ outings, but when you look a little deeper, a different picture emerges, as these appearances were spread evenly over a 7 year period (a couple per year tops)
so one could logically ask why wasn’t he deployed there more often and why didn’t Girona play him on the left even once…well the answer is rather simple, this is a left-foot dominant player, who wants to always cut inside for the sole purpose of shooting, like a poor man’s Robben, and who’s likewise a set piece specialist, so many of his left-sided tallies didn’t actually come from open play…furthermore, those who’ve analyzed this player over the years have consistently said the exact same things: “he’s a set-piece specialist that also excels as a counter-attacking threat, but struggles attacking low blocks, with his short intricate passing a key weakness”…now does this sound like a good fit for a manager who, more often than not, deploys a possession-based system, which requires us to constantly face low blocks, and who seems to be deathly allergic to countering with pace
now if this is some sort of depth piece addition on the relative cheap, as he’s currently valued at around 30M, I guess I get the play, especially considering the fact that that we don’t currently employ a set piece specialist or shoot near enough from distance, but it has the feels of a Vieira 2.0 half measure hire…so even though he’s clearly more experienced than our Portuguese flop, so he should handle the rigours of fhe PL vastly better, I can’t help but think that, unless we’re changing our tactics, he’s another square peg project…sorry but we don’t need a Lucas Perez reboot, we need top-top readymade recruits…hope I’m wrong, but to me he’s simply one of several players from this vastly overachieving La Liga side that are creating some buzz nowadays,…just not sure of it’s justified or frugal wishful thinking
Looks like City are looking to counter the PL case against them by starting to pull at the FFP threads – I’m not sure the owner understands how our mentality works and I don’t think Arsenal, ManU, Liverpool, Spuddies, Villa, Chelsea etc etc are going to give up and let City and Newcastle turn the PL into who bought the trophy this year.
Marc
City have bottomless pockets and their lawyers are top class. They will fight and fight again just to achieve postponement. The PL League has funding as much as the other clubs are prepared to gamble – a game of poker anyone?
NORG
The PL sets its rules and members have to follow them – the rules in place have been agreed by City. If they’re not careful they could see the major clubs threaten to break away and invite the other dozen odd teams and leave City to rot.
NORG
The PL sets its rules and members have to follow them – the rules in place have been agreed by City. If they’re not careful they could see the major clubs threaten to break away and invite the other dozen odd teams and leave City to rot.
I’m not sure they’d be too many tears spilt.
Not sure how that posted twice?
Marc
As nothing is out in the open we can only surmise the PL claims and the City counter claims. City will be employing every tactic in the book and now a counter claim. The legal cost will be huge for both parties.
I think the Saudies have a different agenda and will not be ruffling too many feathers at this time. They are playing a long game – ultimately the ESL is the prize they want.
Looks like the clubs bar one have agreed to keep VAR, so I expect Wenger’s offside offering rushed into being.
TRVL
Thanks the Viktor Tsygankov post. I’ve neglected the press recently mostly so I don’t get triggered the way silly season can and does do. I really don’t want to read about El B’s mega deal. Bacary S was urging El B to sign da ting. I get the feeling there is this unfounded but collective feeling that next season is when El B brings home the bacon and starts to ascend to Pepe’s lofty heights of football saintdom.
I beg to differ. What are our expectations for next season lads?
Though, I though our Gabs was dicing with death in being quoted as say he would leave us in a heartbeat if the Corinthians came calling.
I got to thinking is this a reiteration from beginning last season when El B decided he wanted to sell the big Loon. Maybe last season Gabs agent was testing the Brazilian shores for Gabs, and El B’s spies earnt their arse licking crust.
Has Gabs agent repeated the previous maneuver and now the press has picked up on it or is Gabs paving the way to move?
We’ll know if a “Gabs for sale” rumors appears soon.
I only have one question: “Do we really know who we want?”
TRVL
Your boy Arne Slot looks like his first signing could be Federico Chiesa. He will slot in nicely. Great player.
Took from Mirror sport but the story is everywhere, what are your thoughts on Isak?
“Arsenal are keen to sign new striker and while RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has already said yes to what could be a £55million move to the Emirates, Newcastle talisman Alexander Isak is also on their radar.”
Norg
You got any thoughts on the Gab’s noise and Isak?
Tony
Gabs is a Gasper ( and Per) signing. Big Per wanted him and Gasper did the deal – he is not an El B signing and therefore can be discarded – and he was but it proved to be a mistake. Gabs has made the statement and he probably knows the outcome. No surprises if he is in Brazil before the start of next season. ESR made the mistake of praising Ozil. He had extra training with Ozil (Not condoned by El B). I believe Isak is happy at Newcastle. I have a funny feeling about Saka – no way is he going now but if things do not work out this coming season – we win something! – he will seek a new club to win something. Saliba has a desire to play for RM – 12months time could be crunch time.
Spurs are a venal, cheap and nasty club of cunts aren’t they? They have decided to stop offering senior fans a 25 percent discount on their season tickets this coming season.
These old codgers are the only links Spurs have with the past when they had a modicum of success. In 1961. 63 barren and sad years without meaningful success.
You think of the money sloshing around in football and Levy and his cunty colleagues decide to victimise their oldest and most loyal fans. Fucking shit bags. They’ve probably got data that suggests the over 60s don’t spend as much as younger ‘customers’ in the club shop and the cheese room.
That said, Kroenke, Henry and the Glazers will be watching closely to see if it helps the make a few extra quid, ready to copy them next season. Fucking despicable decision although geriatric spuds probably deserve it.
Kroenke
One of the guys I go with has been a season ticket holder since the early 80’s and one of his favourite comments is “When I first started going I was the average fan, 40 years later and I’m still the average fan”.
Going to a PL match is bloody expensive when you boil it down. I pay for my ST in a lump sum you pay it and forget about it so a match day is £12 – £15 quid travel plus beer money and maybe a bite to eat.
You turn that into the full cost: average ticket (B match) £55 ish, travel £12 – £15, say £25 on a few beers and a couple of bottles of water in the stadium and you’ve done best part of £100 and that’s without eating. Start having a drink in the stadium or food and drink and you’re adding a minimum of £15.
If you loose the connection to the past you also break the link to new fans being introduced to going.
KP
As only Levy does. But, its Spurs, so let the spuds hate their club’s machinations and Levy.
On a human point this is for Levy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26ClGxCylSM
I mean it applies to all Spuds but more to Levy.
Marc
I guessed the day out for a game would be around £100 depending on the game.
Around 25 games a season is still £2500; it’s not a cheap hobby, but it is a big part of one’s life, so for the friendships you enjoy, a price can’t be put on that.